Second solo album, following 2007's Are You Listening, from former frontwoman of the phenomenally successful 90s Irish alternative band the Cranberries. Expanding on the indie rock sound of her debut, this album sees O'Riordan exploring a range of styles including a funky, bluesy hard rock feel as exemplified by lead track 'The Journey'. (Amazon.co.uk)

Renaissance’s new Sidetrack series is devoted to giving members of electronic-dance combos the chance to stretch their deejaying muscles. The series is kicking off with a selection from Hercules and Love Affair mastermind Andy Butler, who’s been spinning for years before his glitter-ball-friendly band hit the big time last year. And the mix finds the mark, with the late-’80s disco rave of WestBam’s “And Party,” a pair of classic house tracks from the seminal Gotham producer Todd Terry and a new Hercules and Love Affair track, the squelchy jacker “I Can’t Wait.” (newyork.timeout.com)

Legendary reggae artists offer an overview of one of the world's most popular music styles.

Guy Klucevsek is an American-born accordionist and composer. He is one of relatively few accordion players active in jazz and free improvisation. Klucevsek has released sixteen albums as a leader or co-leader, and has recorded or performed with John Zorn, Bill Frisell, Laurie Anderson and others. (Wikipedia)

Speech Debelle is a 26 year old south London acoustic rapper. Her debut album Speech Therapy was announced as one of the shortlisted twelve albums for this year's Mercury Prize award.
Speech Therapy is a soul-baring acoustic-hip hop journey through Speech Debelle's teenage years - it's a record that has already earned her comparisons to Lily Allen, Jamie T and Lauryn Hill. Odd-pop sensation Micachu and British rapper Roots Manuva guest on the album. (BBC)

No sooner does he establish his White Stripes side project, the Raconteurs, as a fully fledged band, than the restless Jack White unveils his latest project, the Dead Weather. He has already described this record as "gothic blues". Here he hooks up with Alison Mosshart, singer of Anglo-American duo the Kills. She fronts the band with White ostensibly taking a backseat by playing drums, but his influence is everywhere; from the band name to the album title, a typically wry choice of word that turns an innocuous plant into an intimation of foreboding. The Dead Weather are given continuity with White's other musical activities through bassist Jack Lawrence, a carry-over from the Raconteurs, and rounded out by multi-instrumentalist Dean Fertita. The project came together through jam sessions that followed the end of a Raconteurs tour in 2008 (on which the Kills played as support) and was recorded over 15 days at the HQ of White's Third Man label in Nashville. (The Observer)

Another PMB compilation created using the tunes of the Rolling Stones fused with bossa nova beats.

Argentinean CD which sees 12 classic Marley tracks given the electronic-tinged bossa nova treatment.

Ebony Thomas makes an Afro-punk racket in the vein of M.I.A. or Santigold.

Sometymes Why is an all-star trio of women from some of contemporary Americana's finest string bands: Aoife O'Donovan (Crooked Still), Kristin Andreassen (Uncle Earl), and Ruth Ungar Merenda (the Mammals). What began as casual harmonies while touring on the same bill, Sometymes Why has grown into a band all their own. Your Heart Is a Glorious Machine is their sophomore release. Each member wrote and sings lead on three songs, with a shared harmony version of Concrete Blonde's Joey added in.

One of country music’s greatest stars, Tanya Tucker has just released a new album, My Turn, a collection of covers of classic country songs, recorded as a tribute to her late father, Beau Tucker. Tanya Tucker has been a presence on the country charts for nearly 40 years — her career began in 1972 when she landed her first Top 10 hit on the country chart at just 13. On her new album she takes country songs originally recorded by great male legends (among them Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, George Jones) and give these classics a powerful reconstruction from a woman’s point of view. (SaguaroRoad.com)

"Martyn is the most recognizable face of the Dutch dubstep scene. He first made an impression in 2005 with a couple of singles that garnered him immediate underground applause for the way he managed to integrate both techno and jungle/drum-n-bass techniques into the then fledgling sounds of dubstep. Further singles and a relentless DJ schedule only added to his increasing profile, culminating with the release of his critically lauded debut album Great Lengths in April 2009." AMG

"Martyn is one of a cluster of producers who're associated with dubstep but refuse genrefication; he simply calls his productions 'Martyn music'. His interpretation of dubstep is utopian; drums and bass are all that are required for entry, everything else is yours." FACT Magazine, 20 Best Albums April - June 2009

Meaning "red-haired one" in French, La Roux is the synth pop project of singer/songwriter Elly Jackson, a girl with flame hair, an androgynous look and a penchant for the higher register, and keyboardist/producer Ben Langmaid.

"La Roux irrevocably establish their love of 80s pop. This debut album continues the duo’s foray into euphoric retro-dance, nodding non-ironically to the likes of The Eurythmics and Depeche Mode while remaining impressively contemporary. It’s apparent that La Roux have colour, class and confidence in spades." - Danny McKenna, amazon.co.uk

"Elly Jackson was born to be a star. So far 2009 belongs to La Roux, the rest are just playing catch-up." - Michael Cragg, musicomh.com

American punk rock band Spinnerette, consisting of vocalist/guitarist Brody Dalle (ex The Distillers) and "whichever musicians she wants to work with", have just released their self-titled debut album that is sure to expand Dalle's constituency of fans. The cover art notwithstanding, the album confirms Dalle as a skillful musician with a creative capacity for songwriting.

One of the best British dance music groups. Heather Small's vocals are ravishing.